>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of vermont, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. the john t. and katherine t. mcarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide

range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> colonel gaddafi's troops force rebels from strong holesd, while his son threatens a new, bigger military onslaught. >> it's time for action. we are moving now. everybody is going to be so excited. >> in brussels, the talk continues as the international community tries to decide what action to take. >> nato is united. nato is vigilant. nato is ready to act. >> saudi arabia protestors call for a day of range. the government promises tough ability to promote stability. welcome to "bbc news." coming up a little later for you, while the muslim community in the united states has been angered by a congressional committee.

why the most expensive musical in broadway history has had its opening postponed for a sixth time. hello. pro-government forces in libya have stepped up their onslaught against the rebels who are said to be fleeing after sustained bombardment. reports say many parts of the town have been destroyed in the heavy fighting of recent days. with the initiative reporting to swing towards the government, colonel gaddafi's son has sworn a full-scale military action to crush the rebellion. now this report. >> the rebels and the news teams following them are easy targets

on an open road in the desert. they were falling back. the rebels have gone up and down this road, but the gaddafi forces have more fire power. >> when gaddafi fight with airport, you know, big weapons, and we don't have anything. where everybody? we need help, yeah. >> colonel gaddafi's war planes and heavy weapons could be decisive if the rebels don't get help from abroad. the regime is suggesting the americans might want to arm the rebels. >> i have the general with me and he's ready to take the call. >> libyan tv has what seemed to be an interceptive phone call, supposedly between the u.s. ambassador and a rebel general in the east. >> this is ambassador gene crist talking to you. >> what equipment do you have? >> it's not clear what exactly

the american diplomat, if it was him, was offering. >> if they want to support the militia, do it. and we are not afraid. america, nato, france. it is our country. we live here, we die here. we will never, ever surrender to those terrorists. >> later in tripoli, colonel gaddafi's most prominent son addressed the quarters he called the real libyans. they were supposed to be libya's future, until the rebellion. as far as these people are concerned, that vision has been restored. the son will succeed the father.

the rebels will be beaten. it feels like a victory rally. and he had a shot message for the rebels. we're coming. jeremy bowen, "bbc news," tripoli. >> nato has insisted that for a no-fly zone to be set up over libya, there would have to be strong regional support. on the diplomatic front, there has been a rather gloomy assessment in washington of the rebels' chance. the united kingdom of france has ramped up -- saying the libyan union has lost any legitimacy. >> this is not the easy revolution the world's leaders has had hoped for. colonel gaddafi's hold on power may be shaky, but he could still win. at nato headquarters today, they were not banging the war drums, but they did decide to continue

planning for a variety of military scenarios. and there was a warning to libya's leader. >> i can't imagine the international community and the united nations stand idly by if colonel gaddafi continues attacking his people systematically. >> today in paris, the french president became the first leader to officially recognize the libyan opposition. later, he and david cameron issued a joint appeal for a firm e.u. stance on libya when member states meet in brussels tomorrow. the french president has also suggested a limited campaign of targeted air strikes. among them, the military airfield in colonel gaddafi's hometown. another in the south of the country. and one at gaddafi's barracks at tripoli. britain insists military action could only be triggered if certain conditions are met.

>> that would, of course, be a demonstrable need for that to happen. there's a clear legal basis to do it. and thirdly that there is regional involvement. there was a feeling that if we undertook such a mission and didn't have one of the arab countries involved with us, then that could be open to misinterpretation by those who would want to do so. >> the overall impression here today is that europe's leaders are, on the whole, like their u.s. counterparts, rather weary. they're happy to call for colonel gaddafi to go. they're happy to impose sanctions. and yet they're extremely worried about getting into a north african war. to help with nato surveillance, the u.s. is moving its ships closer to the libyan ship line. president obama's top advisor on intelligence has also been making waves, saying it's his assessment that colonel gaddafi will remain in power. >> over time, this is kind of a stalemate back and forth, but i

think of the longer term, that the regime will prevail. >> that won't encourage the rebels. they held funerals today for two fighters. they're december -- they're desperate for outside military help, but it's not coming yet. matthew price, "bbc news," brussels. >> our washington correspondent andrew north and james clapper had embarrassed president obama with his gleek assessment for a rebel victory in libya. >> he certainly has. it's making it very difficult for the administration. but this evening, senior administration officials have let it be known that president obama does not agree with his director of national intelligence. he does not believe that colonel gaddafi will prevail. but while things are obviously not looking too good for the

future career prospects of the director of national intelligence, this incident does expose the obama administration and its policy on libya, because if indeed colonel gaddafi does survive, there will be many who will say, well, why didn't you do more to make sure that he went? now, the administration's concerns about going unilateral, about taking direct action there are now quite well-known. but as colonel gaddafi's forces appear to be gaining the momentum, time is certainly running out for the administration to take action. it will ensure that colonel gaddafi should go. >> hillary clinton has confirmed that the united states is suspending diplomatic relationships with libyan envoy representatives. did she give any indication the u.s. may follow france's lead and recognize the opposition council? >> there's no sign of that yet,

but they are saying that they have now made direct contact with the rebels. they say they are sending in more humanitarian assistants to eastern libya, to the rebel controlled part of the country. there are plans to send in u.s. disaster assistance teams. but in terms of actual recognition, some are talking about arms to the rebels, this kind of thing. there's no sign of any kind of further movement there. >> andrew north in washington. so as we've heard, france has become the very first cun troy formally recognize the libyan opposition national council. the head of the council, he urged other countries to follow the lead set by paris. >> the recognition by the french is a major boost for the national transitional council. what is going on in libya now makes it incumbent on all countries to follow suit and recognize the council, because

it represents those who are now controlling most of the country. >> in yemen, after weeks of violent protests and 30 deaths, their president proposed a political reform, including demolition of central authority and separation of powers. he invited the opposition to join a new unity government and draft a new constitution. there have been more pro-democracy protests in manama. opposition groups are planning to stage further demonstrations on friday. they say they're going to march on the royal palace for the stepdown. police in saudi arabia have opened fire to disperse a crowd of protestors. several hundred demonstrators have taken to the streets to demand the release of nine shia prisoners. three men were wounded in the shooting, which came a day before a planned protest calling for political reforms. the saudi authorities do place

foreign journalists under tight restrictions, but the bbc's paul wood has sent this report. >> saudi arabia tonight. young men run forward to confront the security forces. the protest is small enough, but it's about local grievances. the so called day of rage has already begun. earlier, i met a shia intellectual. his reform agenda and unrest on the streets is a combination that alarms the government. he stresses he wants peaceful change. >> we have to start somewhere. after 10 years or 20 years or

maybe 50 years, we have to start. >> many people do love the king, and our government mind has found some for us. they worried if democracy will bring conflict to a tribal society. >> our government is the best government for us and we want it, but the people have to choose their government? no. that is a bad way. this is a bad idea. >> never forget, this is saudi arabia, a country named after one family. king abdullah has begun some reforms. though this is a place where the government remains very much in control. you're supposed to have an official to work here, and producing a camera on the streets will very quickly bring the attention of the police. this is also a country with no

tradition of public protest. interior ministry has just issued a statement saying that any demonstrations are illegal. everyone already knows that, of course. but the interior ministry has added rather ominously that it will take all measures necessary to deal with what it calls public disorder. shots were heard tonight. it's not clear if they were live rounds or plastic bullets. there were some injuries. this could be tear gas or a stun grenade. all this does mark an escalation, though there have been protests in the shiite east before. everyone now is waiting to see if the capital is next. >> there is more analysis in the situation in saudi arabia on the "bbc news" website. also you'll find there a timeline of the events taking place in labia on thursday.

to libya and colonel gaddafi's forces, they're trying to regain libya, but we've been speaking to some of its residents. >> this is where mohammed's son was playing and was picked up by the security forces and taken to prison three times, accused of being an islammist. he also blames the security forces for shooting dead one of his sons. how do you feel about colonel gaddafi then? >> what shall we do? nothing to do. >> you feel that he's stronger than you? >> he is stronger. >> what's the atmosphere in your neighborhood now? the shots, is that because people are afraid? >> believe me, people are afraid. later on open. >> in the evening they open up? >> yeah, open.

>> why are they afraid? is there a breakdown of law and order? >> nobody can breathe. most people, they never get out and come out of their home. stay watching tv. they think when they come out, some new news and they don't know it. >> he is one of the few shopkeepers here who is opening his shop. how come you're happy to open when most people are keeping their shops shut all day? >> i do open the shop because i pay rent and i need to earn my money to be able to pay rent and feed my family. >> how long are you prepared to keep this up? >> we have no problems to sustain the pressure until we succeed toward what we want. we are all together hand in hand, and we are all going to

succeed. >> this is "bbc news" smed the headlines. colonel gaddafi's forces have been making further advances as they attempt to crush the rebel uprising in libya. the colonel's son has threatened a new, bigger military onslaught. internationally, there's much diplomatic talk, but no agreements on what to do next. france has officially recognized libya's rebels. the afghan president hamid karzai has announced the first phase of a security transition from foreign forces to afghans later this month. the move will take afghanistan closer to having full responsibility for its own security. we've been following a group of afghan army recruits. in in second special report, we join them at the end of eight weeks of training before they face the taliban. reporting from kabul.

>> they train with real bullets. after each exercise with real bullets, recruits get a body search and move. >> a group attack is very good. the enemy cannot succeed. the enemy cannot escape, so we can arrest them. >> the soldiers seek a lunch break. >> it was a very good exercise. we can use it in the battlefield. when we walk if line and then lie down, then the enemy cannot attack us. we can defeat them. >> celebrations marking the successful end of the two months

training. with this special ceremony, these young men officially become soldiers. the slogan is god, country, duty. the dangerous duty of defending a country in war. every two weeks, nearly 1,400 recruits graduate the biggest training camp in afghanistan. but some others in this group were not told where they would be deployed. i tell him that he will be going to hell monday, and it is not -- he will be going to helmond and it is not good news for him. >> it has a bad reputation in the world, so when my parents find out, they might think i'm being deployed to a bad place. but i have to do my duty. it's also my province. it is a bit remote, though.

>> today, they will have to use the tactics they learned during the training and real battle scenes. the government hopes it will help the smooth security transition to after began forces. >> a u.s. congressman has warned that al qaeda is actively recruiting u.s. muslims for violent attacks within the country. peter king was speaking at a congressional committee looking at the radicalization of u.s. muslims. critics say the hearing is feeding anti-islamic sentiment, as steve king now reports from washington. >> a question that's unleashed a political storm. is muslim america doing enough to root out the enemy within? this is the questioner, peter king, a defiant republican

congressman from new york. >> i remain convinced that these hearings must go forward and they will. to back down would be a surrender and an abdication of what i believe to be the main responsibility of this committee, to protect america from a terrorist attack. >> democrats alluded to mr. king's past links with political violence. he was once a vocal supporter of the i.r.a. but their main objection is that these hearings could alienate muslim americans, even drive them into the arms of terrorists. >> this hearing today is playing into al qaeda right now around the world. >> america's first muslim congressman was called as a witness and broke down, recalling a muslim paramedic who died on 9/11. >> he was a fellow american who gave his life for other americans. his life should not be identified as just a member of

an ethnic group or just a remember of a religion. >> all agree that the threat is changing. 10 years ago, al qaeda launched massive attacks on america directed from abroad. today, from times square to fort hood, the danger is internal. from individuals, often u.s. citizens. but muslim groups wonder why these hearings are focused only on islammists terror and not on right-wing extremists. they say an entire faith is being put on trial and they're reaching out to other americans through an online campaign. >> they say you should fear me. >> hate me. >> but the truth is -- >> i don't want to impose my faith on you. >> at the committee, this man said islammist radicals had programmed his son to kill. carlos bledsoe is a muslim convert whose journey took him from tennessee to yemen. he's been charged with the murder of an american soldier. >> what do you hope your testimony will bring about? >> i think it's very necessary for this hearing to be.

i think that as you can see, a lot of people are still in denial that we even have a problem in radicalization. >> their echoes of history here in the 1950's, senator joseph mccarthy famously sought to expose communist sympathizers and was accused of leading a congressional witch hunt. peter king denies being a modern day mccarthy. the obama administration is treading a cautious middle path. it says muslims are a vital part of the american family and the first line of defense in identifying the extremist minority. steve king ston, "bbc news," washington. >> the fortunes of the musical version of "spiderman," they're falling fast and there's no safety net in sight. the official opening has been delayed for the sixth time, and the director is stepping aside.

previous performances have been selling out for months, but after accidents and scathing reviews, could the $65 million show go down as one of broadway's biggest ever blunders? >> the musical "spiderman" has not got off to a flying start. it is the most expensive show in broadway's history. but it has been beset with problems. cost overruns, injured actors, a "new york times" review of a preview, saying the show is so grievously broken that it is beyond repair. all that, and it hasn't even opened yet. >> i went to the first preview on november 28. the show stopped five different times, including one point where spiderman was left just hanging in the air. i've seen it four other times and it's definitely gotten better.

>> the official opening has been postponed again. today a new creative team was there to make significant revisions. but it's not all bad news. the rock stars who have written the show's music remain fully committed. >> i think we're interested in it because it's a really quintessential new york story, and we're all kind of want to be new yorkers. >> and all the bad press has not pulled off the punches. >> this is the story of their generation on broadway. whatever happens, we don't know. that's part of the excitement. >> it is kind of odd that there are so many accidents, but i guess if there are so many accidents, there must be a lot of technical stuff, so it should be really, really awesome to see. >> the wizard of oz, which opened in london last week, is another big budget show. for the producers of such musicals, the stakes are getting higher and higher. the public want more and more spectacular shows like the wizard of oz here where you've

got blockbuster sets and wow factor stunts. but they're expensive, risky, and complicated. but the producers know that if they get it right, well, then there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. >> you can make zillions. look at the success andrew's had with "phantom of the opera." cameron's had with "les miserables." you can make big money. >> peter parker was a troubled, inadequate, and rejected teenager before he turned into spiderman, became an all-conquering superhero. the team behind the musical will be hoping for a similar transformation. >> libyan government forces have launched a major offensive and to regain control of parts of the country from the rebels. you are watching "bbc news."

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